Mountain biking under the influence...

A couple nights ago I had a "friend" over (former RJ'er - now kinda sorta dating).

During our drunken escapade, I proposed that we mount my mountain bikes (I have two) and ride around the neighborhood...while wearing flip flops.

Anyway, not sure if it was experience or alcohol (and another 'green substance'), but my biking skills were awesome compared to my sober skills. I was able to "bunny hop" stuff I'd never be able to hop over when sober.

This has compelled me to ask the question: Have you ever mountain biked while half-drunk and stoned?

Shortly after the local pub opened (3 miles horizontal distance, 1100 ft vertical distance) I unexpectedly stopped for what turned into a few beers and some really nasty bar food. Caught out after dark, somewhat tipsy. Hopped on my bike and headed up the hill with no lights. Had to stop half way and blow chunks

I have never mountain biked while drunk, but one time I got my friends together to play "Rumball". Rum + Racquetball = Rumball. Just grab a backpack, fill it full of bottles of rum, and smuggle it into the court. We had a freakin' blast! There were three of us playing cutthroat, and we would make up stupid rules like "If I score on this next serve, then both of you have to do a shot."

Needless to say, we got wasted (we drank lots of water, too.) But I swear I played awesome that day! I felt like I was making awesome shots! I think maybe I was "looser" and more willing to just go for shots that I normally would think I couldn't get.

mindgarden saidShortly after the local pub opened (3 miles horizontal distance, 1100 ft vertical distance) I unexpectedly stopped for what turned into a few beers and some really nasty bar food. Caught out after dark, somewhat tipsy. Hopped on my bike and headed up the hill with no lights. Had to stop half way and blow chunks

Lights are for people who don't know how to handle unseen/unexpected obstacles.

Rockbiter saidI have never mountain biked while drunk, but one time I got my friends together to play "Rumball". Rum + Racquetball = Rumball. Just grab a backpack, fill it full of bottles of rum, and smuggle it into the court. We had a freakin' blast! There were three of us playing cutthroat, and we would make up stupid rules like "If I score on this next serve, then both of you have to do a shot."

Needless to say, we got wasted (we drank lots of water, too.) But I swear I played awesome that day! I felt like I was making awesome shots! I think maybe I was "looser" and more willing to just go for shots that I normally would think I couldn't get.

That sounds fun. I want to play that with y'all but redesign the game to be called "rumbike."

nah.. but oncve with a friend we went hiking in the Adirondack Mtns and we brought a couple beers to drink once we reach the top of some mount, forgot which one. The climb was fairly steep , nothing drastic but not easy either. I don't know if it was due to physical exertion, empty stomach.. but with just one beer we were drunk. We came down giggling all the way feeling completely loose and silly.

I've seen downhillers smoke a joint before committing to crazy dh courses. But the XC crowd is usually too elitist for that ;p... ( not) .

Alcohol and physical activity don't mix well with me. A lot of the people I mountain bike with me enjoy having a beer or six after a ride. I tried it a couple of times and it always makes me nauseated. I usually have to wait an hour or two afterwards. Honestly, I don't find the appeal and would rather just have my recovery drink. I can't imagine riding while already drunk. I might hurl like no other.

I could of gotten a bui (biking under the influence) the night I did this. I thought it was an awesome ride. I don't usually use a light to see and I avoid bright lights coming at me.When I use the 'green', I get to my destination w/out realizing that I just biked there. One night, after a few beverages, I was on my scooter, and had to get naked to ride the rest of the way home !!

Yes, it really does blind oncoming traffic unless you get it aimed just right. It's usually on the bike that used to be my "commuting" machine.

The reason I mentioned not having it as a significant factor on a dark, moonless, drunk night is that this is my road home. It's good to know exactly where the edge of the road is. And not have to dive for the ditch every time a car comes around a bend.

Yeah I have a slightly older NR MiNewt.. God these things are cheap now! Hah!

I solved my problem by not riding out in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night. I didn't like it anyway. Intervals in pitch black with 65mph two way traffic and sketchy roads (known to have random things like tires, metal bars, large pieces of cars, etc, in the shoulder) was sheer insanity, I am surprised I survived. I was hit by a truck on this road but that is a different story.

bjerwin99 saidYeah I have a slightly older NR MiNewt.. God these things are cheap now! Hah!

I solved my problem by not riding out in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night. I didn't like it anyway. Intervals in pitch black with 65mph two way traffic and sketchy roads (known to have random things like tires, metal bars, large pieces of cars, etc, in the shoulder) was sheer insanity, I am surprised I survived. I was hit by a truck on this road but that is a different story.

Minus the traffic, that sounds like fun! Now I wanna get drunk and ride some crazy stuff.

Hah, it isn't that interesting. Like the time I was hit by a bus. Makes for great ice breaking conversation even though not much happened.

The truck was on this same road, though during the daytime. Totally flat with no traffic and about a 8ft shoulder I am riding in. It is out on the Indian reservation so literally nothing around for miles. I am there minding my own business in the shoulder and some jackass in a big truck (like commercial size, more than a pickup, less than semi) zips by at probably 60mph and tags my arm with his rear view mirror. Somehow he managed not to connect with bone so it was just like a sharp slap. Didn't even fall. He kept going off course and I didn't get a license. Had to have been intentional.

The bus was similar.. in the city, both of us turning left, he goes wide into the bike lane and hits me on the shoulder with the front corner of the bus. Fairly low speed, no damage, we both ride on. All I could do was yell and hand gesture.. all in vain!

I figure 6 inches in one direction for either case and I would have been hurting. In this regard I guess I am lucky.. now if I could transfer that to other areas of my life!

I've got the Serfas 1500. Keeping it on low is more than adequate for trail riding. I usually keep in on medium when I'm racing during night endurance races. But when I want to light up the whole trail and land a plane, I set it to high. I haven't tried the overdrive setting yet. I heard you need a permit for that setting.

Is it possible that you guys 'think' you're awesome when drunk or stoned because you're so impaired that everything looks great? I'm guessing if you were able to see a video played back you'd be thinking...OMG, what was I thinking? I'm sorry but it takes me too damn long to heal at this age to do some of that wild and crazy stuff.

I've done it. We spin Tuesday group mtn bike rides during warm weather months and hit a favorite Irish Pub with outdoor deck on return leg of ride. The pub is right along the trail so it's perfect. We often joke that we remember little of the last 7 miles home after the pub because we often spin that final stretch with a hand full of beers in the tank. Ironically, one of my worst (from an injury standpoint) accidents happened on that flat, technical 7-mile stretch, and we weren't even going fast.

Happy on Guinness, I crashed at a point on the trail where macadam paving was added to make crossing railroad tracks possible without dismounting. These tracks sit at the top of a short, steep sprint-hill so you're out of the saddle climbing with strong power strokes on the cranks.

Caused by heat at the height of a heat wave, the macadam heaved adjacent to the tracks causing a small, 4" lip to form, and when my rear wheel launched off this lip, full-power to the cranks and no resistance but air, I went down on my left side like a sack of potatoes. The results: busted helmet and concussion, 4 cracked ribs, bruised left kidney, and 60 grit road rash with embedded debris that took weeks to work back to the surface, lol. And this was a low-speed accident.

I still enjoy the cold brews on Tuesday's group rides. I just watch for that dams lip at the railroad tracks.

berkco01 saidI've done it. We spin Tuesday group mtn bike rides during warm weather months and hit a favorite Irish Pub with outdoor deck on return leg of ride. The pub is right along the trail so it's perfect. We often joke that we remember little of the last 7 miles home after the pub because we often spin that final stretch with a hand full of beers in the tank. Ironically, one of my worst (from an injury standpoint) accidents happened on that flat, technical 7-mile stretch, and we weren't even going fast.

Happy on Guinness, I crashed at a point on the trail where macadam paving was added to make crossing railroad tracks possible without dismounting. These tracks sit at the top of a short, steep sprint-hill so you're out of the saddle climbing with strong power strokes on the cranks.

Caused by heat at the height of a heat wave, the macadam heaved adjacent to the tracks causing a small, 4" lip to form, and when my rear wheel launched off this lip, full-power to the cranks and no resistance but air, I went down on my left side like a sack of potatoes. The results: busted helmet and concussion, 4 cracked ribs, bruised left kidney, and 60 grit road rash with embedded debris that took weeks to work back to the surface, lol. And this was a low-speed accident.

I still enjoy the cold brews on Tuesday's group rides. I just watch for that dams lip at the railroad tracks.

Except for the injuries, that sounds funny as fuck.

So far my worst wipeout was just the other day, speeding around a curve on a novice trail. Took the wrong line on the berm and hit a rock with the front tire. Almost got it recovered, then hit another rock and down I went. My riding buddy laughed his ass off...and so did I.